Deadline nears to nominate Terrebonne’s top volunteer

Published: Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 12:00 a.m.

Residents have about one week left to nominate a volunteer as Terrebonne’s Most Useful Citizen.

The Courier’s annual award, dating back to 1946, honors a parish resident who has gone to extraordinary engths to help others.

An anonymous panel will select the recipient, and the recipient will be announced during the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce’s 84th annual banquet, scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Civic Center.

“The recipient should be a person who does things not for their own recognition but because it’s the right thing to do and because it’s something that helps others and helps the community,” said Juana Woodard, recipient of the 2001 Most Useful Citizen Award. “The person should do things to make sure the parish has a better quality of life.”

Length of community and humanitarian service are important attributes to select a winner, said Courier and Daily Comet Publisher Miles Forrest.

Woodard, 72, is a wife, mother, grandmother and two-time breast-cancer survivor who dedicated more than 40 years of service to church and community groups.

Among her activities, she has volunteered at Terrebonne’s Camp Bluebird for cancer survivors, supported arts groups and projects and served as Sunday school leader at her church, First United Methodist. She led exercise programs for recovering cancer patients at the YMCA and donated the proceeds to the church.

As Downtown Development Board president from 1999 to 2001, she helped spearhead construction of the Main Street Memorial Park and the Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum. She helped start the Downtown on the Bayou Festival and began plans for Houma’s folk-life center, the bayou boardwalk and a planned children’s museum.

“When I was selected, I felt like there were so many other people more entitled. I have a feeling most recipients feel that way. I was very humbled,” Woodard said. “I never want to set myself up as a model to anyone because I make so many mistakes. But I’m a Christian, and I believe God put us here to serve others, and that’s what I try to do.

Most Useful Citizen nominations must arrive at The Courier’s offices by noon Jan. 14.

Include the nominee’s name, address, occupation and employer as well as the nominating person’s name, address and phone number. A letter with a brief biography of the nominee and the reasons he or she is worthy of the award should be attached, along with any supporting documentation.

The nominee must be a resident of Terrebonne Parish.

Mail nominations to The Courier, P.O. Box 2717, Houma, LA 70361. You can also hand-deliver them to The Courier’s offices at 303 Barrow St. or email them to karen.dauzat@houmatoday.com.

<p>Residents have about one week left to nominate a volunteer as Terrebonne's Most Useful Citizen.</p><p>The Courier's annual award, dating back to 1946, honors a parish resident who has gone to extraordinary engths to help others.</p><p>An anonymous panel will select the recipient, and the recipient will be announced during the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce's 84th annual banquet, scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Civic Center.</p><p>“The recipient should be a person who does things not for their own recognition but because it's the right thing to do and because it's something that helps others and helps the community,” said Juana Woodard, recipient of the 2001 Most Useful Citizen Award. “The person should do things to make sure the parish has a better quality of life.”</p><p>Length of community and humanitarian service are important attributes to select a winner, said Courier and Daily Comet Publisher Miles Forrest.</p><p>Woodard, 72, is a wife, mother, grandmother and two-time breast-cancer survivor who dedicated more than 40 years of service to church and community groups.</p><p>Among her activities, she has volunteered at Terrebonne's Camp Bluebird for cancer survivors, supported arts groups and projects and served as Sunday school leader at her church, First United Methodist. She led exercise programs for recovering cancer patients at the YMCA and donated the proceeds to the church.</p><p>As Downtown Development Board president from 1999 to 2001, she helped spearhead construction of the Main Street Memorial Park and the Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum. She helped start the Downtown on the Bayou Festival and began plans for Houma's folk-life center, the bayou boardwalk and a planned children's museum.</p><p>“When I was selected, I felt like there were so many other people more entitled. I have a feeling most recipients feel that way. I was very humbled,” Woodard said. “I never want to set myself up as a model to anyone because I make so many mistakes. But I'm a Christian, and I believe God put us here to serve others, and that's what I try to do. </p><p>Most Useful Citizen nominations must arrive at The Courier's offices by noon Jan. 14.</p><p>Include the nominee's name, address, occupation and employer as well as the nominating person's name, address and phone number. A letter with a brief biography of the nominee and the reasons he or she is worthy of the award should be attached, along with any supporting documentation.</p><p>The nominee must be a resident of Terrebonne Parish.</p><p>Mail nominations to The Courier, P.O. Box 2717, Houma, LA 70361. You can also hand-deliver them to The Courier's offices at 303 Barrow St. or email them to karen.dauzat@houmatoday.com.</p><p>Staff Writer Kris Johnson can be reached at 857-2207 or </p><p>kris.johnson@houmatoday.com.</p>